May Film Screening – “In Transition 2.0″

Transition Galway presents the first screening of the film ‘In Transition 2.0′ in Galway. The screening takes place in the Cottage Bar, Lower Salthill starting at 8pm on Thursday 17th May. All are welcome!

ABOUT THE FILM:
‘In Transition 2.0′ is an inspirational immersion in the Transition movement, gathering stories from around the world of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. You’ll hear about communities printing their own money, growing food, localising their economies and setting up community power stations.

“The film captures stories of Transition from around the world. You’ll hear about Transition Wayland in the US, and their very first meeting, how Transition Moss Side in Manchester have sought to raise awareness and engage the community by knocking on the area’s front doors, the amazing community visioning work of Aldeia das Amoreiras Sustent·vel (sustainable village of Amoreiras) in Portugal, how the Whitney Avenue Urban Farm in Pittsburgh has had a remarkable impact on the people around them, how Transition Kensal to Kilburn have set up the first food garden on a London underground station and how Transition Town Tooting’s Trashcatchers Carnival, London was aremarkable and very memorable celebration of community and of taking care of the Earth.

You’ll hear about the difficulties of doing Transition too, with the story of how Transition City Lancaster initially fell apart due to conflict but has since risen from the ashes and is now busy with a range of projects, and how Transition groups in London come together to support each other so as to minimise burnout. You’ll hear the story of Transition Monteveglio in Bologna, Italy and their very successful collaboration with the local council and a ground-breaking resolution, committing the council to deep sustainability and resilience-building. There’s Transition Streets from Totnes in Devon which works street-by-street, getting people together to meet, form new connections, and reduce their carbon footprints.

And then there are the emerging social enterprises, The Green Valley Grocer in Slaithwaite, Yorkshire whichraised shares from the community to take over the local grocers which was closing down, The Handmade Bakery, also in Slaithwaite, a really innovative model for how a young couple can set up a vibrant new business. They also make exquisite bread. There’s The Fujino Power Company, Japan, where, following the devastating tsunami and the Fukushima nuclear disaster, members of Transition Fujino responded by setting up a community energy company, with the intention of powering their whole valley using renewable energy. There’s The Lewes community solar power station, in Sussex which was funded by over £300,000 raised in community shares, and the Brixton Pound in London, thelocal complementary currency which can be spent in the area of Brixton in London with local traders – ‘money that sticks to Brixton’. We join them on the night they celebrate launching the UK’s first mobile phone-based complimentary currency.

We visit Heal the Soil CSA in Auroville, India, who help people start up small vegetable gardens in the rural villages of India, providing seeds and permaculture training in order to help them get started growing food, and Project Lyttelton in New Zealand, who employ Transition as one of the tools for their work building community resilience. When the recent earthquakes struck Lyttelton, the value of their work, especially its Time Bank, became apparent”.

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Green Drinks Galway, May 2012 – “St. Francis – Brother to All Creatures”

Br. Cathal Duddy will be the guest speaker for Green Drinks Galway May 2012 which starts at 8pm Thursday 3rd May in the Cottage Bar, Lower Salthill. Br. Cathal is a Galway-based Franciscan friar and is behind a website (www.praying-nature.com) that gives a Christian perspective on ecology. The topic for his talk will be St. Francis of Assisi and is entitled: “St. Francis – Brother to All Creatures”. All are welcome!St. Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals, animal welfare organizations and the environment and one of the most beloved saints. He is the founder of the Order of Franciscan Friars, who owned nothing and served the poor and the sick. He is famous for preaching a sermon to a flock of birds, for writing beautiful prayers (including Canticle for Brother Sun), for his gentleness, and his wisdom. Due to his brotherly care for all creation including nature, St. Francis was named Patron Saint of Ecology by Pope John Paul II.

“My hero is St. Francis of Assisi because he understood the connection between spirituality and the environment. He understood the way God communicates to us most forcefully is through the fishes and the birds and the trees and that it is a sin to destroy those things.” – Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

Posted in Green Drinks

April Screening: ‘SOLUTIONS NIGHT’ Part II

Wednesday 11th April 8pm at the Spirit Centre, Nun’s Island, Galway – All welcome!

-Themes-
Part 1- Act Global think Local – Creating Global Abundance
Part 2- Act Local think Global – Reclaiming Community Power, transcending the economics of scarcity

“Part 2”
Will be showing a number of edited films which aim to present alternative visions and practical ways towards solving pressing social and environments issues by local solutions. Some of the groups to be shown in the film

Open Source Ecology
By weaving open source permacultural and technological cycles together, we intend to provide basic human needs while being good stewards of the land, using resources sustainably, and pursuing right livelihood. With the gift of openly shared information, we can produce industrial products locally using open source design and digital fabrication. This frees us from the need to participate in the wasteful resource flows of the larger economy by letting us produce our own materials and components for the technologies we use. We see small, independent, land-based economies as means to transform societies, address pressing world issues, and evolve to freedom. http://opensourceecology.org/wiki/Open_Source_Ecology

Community Planet
We think that those of us who would like to transform the planet would agree that we need a new paradigm. The new paradigm can only be created by a group of people who come from a loving place inside themselves, absolutely hold the consciousness of the Highest Good For All, and have the vision to bring that into manifestation. People need to see that there is another way, that we don’t have to continue doing the separation that has bred this everyone-for-themselves approach that has been in place unquestioned for thousands of years. People need to see a Community of people who adopt a way of living together and relating together in Community on the principle of the Highest Good For All. When people see the quality of life and the ecological balance that is possible, they will also want to learn the consciousness and the form it takes to do that, and this is what will ultimately transform the planet.

We have a saying: “The solution for everything is the solution to anything.” Virtually every challenge that one can think of can be resolved by the creation of worldwide Communities such as has been described in The Next Evolution. http://www.communityplanet.org/our_vision/

Pearmaculture – OCCUPY THE ECONOMY – Andrew Faust
Permaculture offers a vast resource of practical solutions for sustainable, self sufficient living. The permaculture movement has been developing the strategies needed to become self-sufficient since the 70′s, and is of immeasurable value to those who are ready to stop waiting for politicians to solve the problems they have either created or allowed,
and take back control. http://www.permaculture.ie/

Andrew Faust is one of the premier Permaculture teachers and designers in North America with nearly two decades of experience in the field. His passionate and visionary presentation and curriculum has been inspiring and motivating students since his days as an alternative school teacher at Upattinas in Glenmoore, PA. Andrew lived off the grid in West Virginia for 8 years where he designed and built a Permaculture inspired homestead including a 1600 sq ft strawbale house. He moved to Brooklyn in 2007 and has been applying his knowledge to the urban landscape culminating in a Permaculture Design Certification course many consider life changing. He is developing The Center for Bioregional Living in Ellenville, NY. http://www.homebiome.com/about%20us.htm

FREEEconomy Community – Mark Boyle
Join the world’s fastest growing alternative economy …
The Freeconomy Community’s aim is to help reconnect people in their local communities through the simple act of sharing. Not only is sharing our resources better for the environment, it saves you money and builds friendships with those people who live closest to you. It is what we call a WIN-WIN-WIN situation.

Everything is shared for FREE on Freeconomy, and no money changes hands between members. We do not use advertising, we receive no donations or income from the website and it is completely free to join, forever. Why? Just for the love of it! Find out more – watch the video, read about our philosofree and how it works. http://www.justfortheloveofit.org/

BioRegional – One Planet Living
BioRegional is an award-winning social enterprise which initiates and delivers practical sustainability solutions through partnerships around the world. We assist and encourage others to achieve sustainability through consultancy, education and informing policy.

One Planet Living is a vision of thriving regional economies where we meet more of our needs from local, renewable and waste resources, enabling people to enjoy a high quality of life within their fair share of the earth’s resources.

Free toolkit you can use our free One Planet Action Plan toolkit to create your own sustainability plan. The toolkit contains everything you need to develop your own One Planet Action Plan, including:

  • Introduction to One Planet Action Plans
  • Workbook to follow when making your plan
  • Workshop plan to use if you want to brainstorm ideas together
  • Template action plan that you can complete for your organisation
  • Graphics that you can use in reports and on your website.

To download the One Planet Action Plan toolkit simply subscribe to our One Planet Action Plan mailing list http://www.bioregional.com/

▼▲▲▼▼▲▼▲▼▼▲ ▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▼▲▼
Both this and the previous film night purpose is to show the incredible possibilities and positive solutions that are available for creating a more peaceful, abundant and sustainable world.

 

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Earth Hour events (Sat 31st March)

Transition Galway are extending Earth Hour to a day long series of events this Saturday 31st March. These include an Awareness Campaign on Shop Street, a Tribal Spirit Drum and Song Session, a Movement Meditation in Barna Woods, and a Lantern Walk. All are welcome to attend any one or all of the events!
ph: 087 125 4817

ABOUT EARTH HOUR:
Earth Hour is an International event which takes place each year and is growing in popularity with both businesses and residents. The event normally takes place around the equinox to facilitate a “big switch off” of lights which is the most popular action to date. However, this year Transition Galway wants to broaden the range of activities in which people can take part.

[A.] 11am-2pm: The awareness table on Shop St. will be used to offer people ‘Social-Eco contracts’ which encourage people to sign up to a social or eco task from simple to more challenging. Examples of the contracts include committing to using reusable shopping bags, insulating your home, turning vegan or vegetarian for the week, taking part in a random act of kindness, or taking the bus for a day, week or month (see full list at bottom).

On signing a contract members of the public will be entered to a prize draw (they can select the prize they would prefer if picked out).

Examples of the prizes on offer include two tickets to Funky Seomra event later on Saturday evening, a Kinesiology treatment by Des Richmond, a home energy consultancy by Greener Smarter Energy Consultants, a Painting by artist Chris Harden, a 1-on-1 yoga therapy session with Aisling Richmond, organic horticulture-gardening advice with Fergus Whitney, a fruit tree, and an organic veg box (see full list at bottom).

[B.] A Tribal Spirit Drum and Song Session is taking place at 1pm in Shop St. Meet at our information table along Shop Street.

[C.] A Movement Meditation in Bearna Woods. Meet at Bearna Woods Car Park at 4pm.

[D.] A lantern walk from Eyre Square to rowing club is also planned for the fading of daylight at 8pm. Meet at Browne’s Doorway, Eyre Square at 8pm.

[E.] The Funky Seomra event (alcohol-free club at the Commercial Rowing Club, Woodquay) on Saturday night will be dimming the lights for the first hour and we are also hoping to engage with the City and County Councils with a view to encouraging more public participation in Earth Hour.

FULL LIST OF PLEDGES & PRIZES:
‘social-eco contracts/pledges’
1. Turn off your lights/power to mark Earth Hour 2012 between 8.30pm and 9.30pm on 31st March
2. Commit to using reusable shopping bags
3. Take part in a random act of kindness
4. Walk or cycle to work/school for a day
5. Take the bus for a day/week/month instead of the car
6. Buy organic for one week (local and fairtrade where possible)
7. Turn vegan or vegetarian for a week
8. Plant a fruit tree/s for yourself or your family
9. Grow your own vegetables this year
10. Insulate your attic and/or walls

Prizes
1. Two tickets to Funky Seomra (takes place Sat. night 31st March)
2. A local organic vegetable box
3. 3 x gardening books
4. €20 local health shop voucher
5. Fruit tree
6. Organic garden advice fro qualified horticulturalist
7. Original painting by arist Chris Kuemmel
8. Kinesiology treatment by Des Richmond
9. 1on1 yoga class or yoga therapy by Aisling Richmond
10. Home energy consultancy by Greener Smarter

Posted in Other Transition Galway Events

Green Drinks Galway – April 2012: ‘Because Nature’s Worth It’

Vivienne Campbell is the guest speaker at the April 2012 Green Drinks Galway. She will speak on foraging for herbal remedies, food and cosmetics.

Green Drinks Galway will take place at Kelly’s Bar, Bridge St. on Thursday 5th April at 8pm. Vivienne will give a presentation for 15-30 minutes, then take questions from the audience and many people stay on for a drink or two afterwards. All are welcome!

About Vivienne Campbell:
Originally from one of the Scottish islands, Vivienne is based in County Clare, Ireland. She trained to be a Medical Herbalist on a degree course in Lancashire (UK) run by the National Institute of Medical Herbalists. She qualified in 2003 and moved to County Clare. She ran a busy clinic in Ennis for a number of years. She teaches popular courses on herbal remedies and natural cosmetic-making at several venues in Ireland (www.theherbalhub.com). In the summer months she leads guided herb walks in The Burren, a national park famed for its rare plants and flowers. She is passionate about showing people simple remedies that can be made at home with common plants. Her enthusiasm for Herbalism is contagious and people regularly return to her walks and courses. She is a popular guest speaker and contributor of specialist articles on Herbalism. Her courses and products have featured in national newspapers and radio, and she co-presented a hit RTE1 show Corrigan Cooks Naturally that featured foraging and remedy-making. Vivienne is dedicated to strengthening Herbal Medicine in Ireland. She regularly works with The Irish Seed Savers Association, (www.irishseedsavers.ie) The Burrenbeo Trust and The Organic Centre: all organisations that specialise in conservation of and education about plants and eco-systems in Ireland. She is currently writing her first book.

Posted in Green Drinks

March Screening: SOLUTIONS NIGHT’pt1

This months film screening starts at 8pm in The Spirit Centre, Nun’s Island on Wednesday 14th March – All welcome!

-TITLE-
‘SOLUTIONS NIGHT’ Possible solutions to our social & economic problems.
-Themes-
Part 1- Act Global think Local – Creating Global Abundance
Part 2- Act Local think Global – Reclaiming Community Power

“Part 1”
Will be showing a edited film and lecture around the idea of a Resource Based Economy and the Zeitgeist Movement. The lecture focuses on sustainability and human health as a measure of social progress (not GDP). It asks the QUESTION ‘What are the lasting foundations of human health and prosperity? and how to create a system which meets those needs for the entire population.

The ideas presents will be new to many and if your not familiar with it would seem truncated (which it is) but bare in mind this is a compressed primer and everyone is encouraged to follow up if you have questions with all the resources available at thezeitgeistmovement.com where a much more extensive explanation of an RBE can be found.

Part 2- Act Local think Global – Reclaiming Community Power
The following months screening will be showing a number of edited films which aims to continue the train of thought but in a more hands on way.

Both nights aim to show the incredible possibilities and positive solutions that are available for creating a more peaceful, abundant and sustainable world.

▼▲▲▼▼▲▼▲▼▼▲THE GLOBAL EVENT▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▼▲▼
This event will also be part of the annual world wide “Z-day” event which takes place this weekend http://zday2010.org/

The Zeitgeist Movement is a social movement, international, non-political and non-denominational with roughly 550,000 members across virtually all countries, currently working in over 1000 Regional Chapters.

The movement works to spread awareness of new economic & socially progressive ideas and the use of the scientific method applied toward social & environmental concern in the interest of createing a truly progressive, socially just, sustainable and peaceful global society.

www.theseitgeistmovement.com

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March Green Drinks – ‘Speedie’: Galway Eco-Warrior

Brendan ‘Speedie’ Smith is the guest speaker at the March 2012 Green Drinks Galway. He will give an overview of his work as a community activist including on how to secure neighbourhood residents involvement into eco campaigns and about social inclusion.

This will take place at a venue to be confirmed (likely Kelly’s Bar, Bridge St.) on Thursday 1st March at 8pm. All are welcome!

Some of the campaigns that Brendan has been involved in include: Galway For a Safe Environment (stopping the construction of a incinerator in Galway); Student fees/third level access campaigns; digital inclusion; securing the development of urban forests & Terryland Forest Park; fighting against property speculators and urban sprawl; Absentee Landlords; Mens’ Shed movement/Cumann na bhFear; Ballinfoyle Mór Community Organic Garden; the preservation of local heritage (to name a few!).

About Green Drinks: once a month in 448 cities around the world people with an interest in green issues get together to chat, share ideas and raise a cup/glass to a brighter future. Green Drinks Galway is organised by Transition Galway.

Posted in Green Drinks

Cancelled – Willow structures workshop at The Garden of Transition, Spirit Centre, Nun’s Island

Sunday the 4th March will see us building a living semi willow dome that will surround a willow raised bed in an artistic shape (surprise) for the herb garden.
Given its location by the riverside, this will be a central point of the garden and one of many tea/relaxation areas that all of us gardeners and permaculturists are so fond of :)
So come and join us between 1-5pm, Jen Hesnan and Coralie Mureau will be facilitating the day, and any additional willow canes donations will be much appreciated.
All are welcome to take part and share their skills on the day :)
Please pass on to anyone that might be interested!
Posted in Garden Workshops

Sustainable Food – Lunchtime talk with special guest Seamus Sheridan as part of NUIG green week

Seamus Sheridan, Green Party spokesperson on agriculture is the special guest for this lunchtime talk on Wed 15th February as part of Green Week 2012.

You can find the Tyndall Theatre down the red corridor which is past Smokies cafe on the concourse.

Posted in Partners Events

February Film Screening: ’2012 – Time for Change’

The next monthly film screening starts at 8pm at The Spirit Centre, Nun’s Island on Wednesday 8th February – All welcome!

’2012: Time for Change’ is a feature-length documentary film based in part on the books of Daniel Pinchbeck and is directed by Emmy Award winning filmmaker João Amorim. The film shines the light of hope for a new world of ecological sustainability and mutual cooperation. See poster attached.

The film follows journalist Daniel Pinchbeck, author of the bestselling “2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl,” on a quest for a new paradigm that integrates the archaic wisdom of tribal cultures with the scientific method. As conscious agents of evolution, we can redesign post-industrial society on ecological principles to make a world that works for all. Rather than breakdown and barbarism, 2012 heralds the birth of a regenerative planetary culture where collaboration replaces competition, where exploration of psyche and spirit becomes the new cutting edge, replacing the sterile materialism that has pushed our world to the brink.

There is a heavy emphasis on the fusion of ancient tribal wisdom and science. The film presents a radical positive alternative to apocalyptic doom and gloom, and features, among others, David Lynch, Sting, Ellen Page, Gilberto Gil, Barbara Marx Hubbard, and Paul Stamets.

“An optimistic antidote to apocalyptic prophecies” – BBC

“Excellent…the pic sports one for-the-books visual grace” – Variety

“Thought-provoking” – The Seattle Times

“Will change the thinking of the next generation” – Holman’s Move Review

www.2012timeforchange.com

FACEBOOK EVENT: https://www.facebook.com/events/218766084878065/#!/events/336648083034937/

Posted in Film screenings